Replacing stays on 4500?

[Spike_Sniper]

I have some alum stays from an old north face pack. They are 2 inches longer than the badlands stays but fit in the slots just fine. Would you double up both stays or go with just the alum ones. If I do double them up would you cut the alum to same size? Those badlands stays sure feel like cheap plastic. Also TNF stays have over 10 years of stress on them but only with loads under 40 lbs.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I would rivet them to the current 4500 stays. I did just that several years ago with some aluminum stock, just bent to match shape and rivet to them, never broke a stay after that.

 

[dotman]

The stock plastic stays are a failure point on that pack so I would do what BH stated or at a minimum just run the aluminium.

You could also buy the Kifaru Aluminum stays and use those instead, may have to cut them but they won't break, think they cost $60.